JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A 17-year-old from Bradleyville, Missouri, has the honor of catching the first state record fish in 2025.
Riley Isaacs was bowfishing on April 18 at Lake Taneycomo. He was with a group targeting carp, but the trip was cut short due to impending bad weather. But when storms passed, Isaacs was itching to get back on the water.
“We sat at the boat ramp for about 30 minutes and realized the storms had passed by, so we decided to put the boat back in and play around for an hour or two,” he said. “The first flat we pulled up on, she was waiting there.”
As soon as he saw the fish, Isaacs suspected it was a state record.
“We knew as soon as she hit the deck, we had something special,” he said.
The previous alternative methods record was 2 pounds, 2 ounces, set in June 2022 at Lake Taneycomo.
Isaacs said he’ll have a replica of the fish made to serve as a trophy.
“I’ve shot three more of these redear sunfish, and I’ve missed the state record either by an ounce or two ounces each time, and now I’ve finally got the record,” he said. “It feels awesome.”
Fish caught in Missouri are measured and weighed in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to: atlatl, bank lines, bow, crossbow, gig, grabbing, jug lines, snaring, spearfishing, throwlines, or trotlines.
You can look up all the Missouri fishing records at mdc.mo.gov.